The winner of HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award 2018 is Daníel Bjarnason (Iceland) for his score to Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson feature film Under the Tree.

During an award ceremony at Nordische Botschaften in Berlin Sunday, february 18, the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award was given for the 8th time.

Unfortunately, Daníel Bjarnason was not present at the award ceremony, but artistic manager Edna Pletchetero accepted the beautiful statuette on his behalf, created and designed by the famous Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson and crafted by Icelandic goldsmith Kjartan Örn Kjartansson.Representing the international jury, composer Christine Aufderdaar (Suisse) gave the award to the winner; the other members of the jury were Brian Satterwhite (USA) and Nuno Freire Malo (Portugal).

Nomination text: This superb score is a physical assault on the cinematic viewer which is wonderfully uncomfortable to experience. It provides this dark and twisted film with a unique layer of narrative that powerfully captures the broken souls of its characters. The musical brush strokes are highly original, totally unexpected, and functions exceptionally well as a film score.

All of the nominees this year were outstanding, and it was difficult to single out one from the others; however, the jury agreed this artistry was so unique and visceral that it was our unanimous choice for the 2018 HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award. The winner is Daniel Bjarnason for Under the Three. Meet Daniel ​

Since 2009 the Nordic film composers from the five Nordic countries have met twice a year.As part of the strategy to put more attention to Nordic Film Music the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award was invented.Each of the Nordic countries has been given a free hand to develop an individual profile, collaborative partners and arena for the award ceremony.From 2010 through 2014 the price has been handed once in each of the Nordic countries in conjunction with a film festival.

​The winners of the HARPA award 2010 – 2014 and the prize of 10.000 euro have been:2010 Gothenburg Dani Strömbäck (Finland) for the music to the Finnish film “Letters to Father Jacob” (Finland)2011 Copenhagen Gaute Storaas (Norway) for the music to the Norwegian film “Elias og jakten på havets gull”2012 Reykjavik Fredrik Emilson (Sweden) for the music to the Swedish film “Kronjuvelarna”2013 Trondheim Tuomas Kantelinen (Finland) for the music to the Finnish film “Puhdistus” (“The Purge”).2014 Espoo Matti Bye (Sweden) for the music for the Swedish film “Faro”

From 2016 the HARPA is handed out without a money-prize. 2016, Berlin Atli Örvarsson for his music for the film “Rams’ and Honor award to Icelandic Johann Johannsson.2017, Berlin and Cannes Sune Martin for his music for “Land of Mine” and Honor award to Bent Fabricius-Bjerre.